THE OCCULT
There is a renewed interest in witchcraft, demon-
ism, fortune telling, astrology and every form of oc-
cultism. Sad to say, many people do not know what
the Bible teaches on this important subject. Through
this brief tract, we purpose to inform people of the
great danger of the occult, in the light of God's Word.
God commanded Israel to put to death all
those who practiced sorcery or witchcraft.
"Thou shall not suffer a witch to live." Exodus 22:18.
The Bible teaches that those who seek to com-
municate with spirits or with the dead, become
defiled and are unfit to appear before God to
worship Him. "Regard not them that have fam-
iliar spirits [mediums], neither seek after wizards,
to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 19:31.
God cuts off from among His people all who
turn to mediums for help. "And the soul that
turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after
wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set
my face against that soul, and will cut him off from
among his people." Leviticus 20:6.
Death by stoning was God's sentence on any
man or woman who called up spirits. "A man
also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is
a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone
them with stones: their blood shall be upon them."
Leviticus 20:27.
Witchcraft, fortune telling, crystal reading,
necromancy, and palmistry are related to
spiritism and are strongly condemned by God.
"There shall not be found among you any one that
maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the
fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times,
or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a con-
sulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necro-
mancer. For all that do these things are an abomina-
tion unto the LORD: and because of these abominations
the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before
thee. .... For these nations, which thou shalt possess,
hearkened unto observers of times, and unto divin-
ers: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suf-
fered thee so to do." Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 14.
The above verses also show why the Cana-
anites and other nations were destroyed by God.
They had practiced witchcraft, black magic etc.Samuel's most effective way of impressing
upon King Saul the enormity of his sin of dis-
obedience was by likening it to witchcraft. "For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..." I Samuel
15:23.
When King Saul was faithful to God, he cleared
out all the spiritistic mediums out of the land.
".... And Saul had put away those that had familiar
spirits, and the wizards, out of the land." I Samuel
28:3.
It was only after his sins had made communi-
cation with God impossible, that Saul consulted
a medium. "And when Saul enquired of the LORD,
the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor
by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his
servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar
spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And
his servants said to him, Behold, there is
a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor." I
Samuel 28:6, 7.
Saul's dealing in spiritism brought God's
judgment upon him, resulting in the loss of his
crown and an untimely death. "So Saul died for
his transgression which he committed against the
Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he
kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had
a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not
of the Lord: therefore he slew him..." I Chron-
icles 10:13, 14.
The long list of wicked King Manasseh's sins
included consulting with mediums and witch-
craft. "And he caused his children to pass through
the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he
observed times, and used enchantments, and used
witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with
wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the
LORD, to provoke [H]im to anger." II Chronicles 33:6.
One of the reasons that God rejected Israel
was because they practiced such things. "There-
fore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob,
because they be replenished from the east, and are
soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please
themselves in the children of strangers." Isaiah 2:6.
It is an insult to God to consult mediums
when you can inquire of Him. "And when they shall
say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spi-
rits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:
should not a people seek unto their God? for the living
to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they
speak not according to this word, it is because there
is no light in them." Isaiah 8:19, 20.The New Testament Also Warns Fortunetellers may be demon possessed like
Against Occultism
the girl in Philippi out of whom Paul cast an unclean
spirit in the name of Jesus. "And it came to pass,
as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed
with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying: The same follow-
ed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the
servants of the most high God, which shew unto us
the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But
Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I
command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come
out of her. And he came out the same hour." Acts
16:16-18.
The above Scripture shows that demon possessed
people may be religious and utter some truth. How-
ever, this does not justify God's people having any-
thing to do with them.
In Ephesus, those who become Christians
gave up black magic and all related practices.
"Many of them also which used curious arts [magi-
cal] brought their books together, and burned them
before all men: and they counted the price of them,
and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." Acts
19:19.
Sorcery (witchcraft) is mentioned among the
works of the flesh in the Bible, and those who
practice it cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
See Galatians 5:17-21.
Those who practice sorcery will be shut out
of Heaven and will be sent to Hell for eternity.
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomin-
able, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death." Revelation 21:8.
The teachings of spiritism are the doctrines
of devils! "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that
in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;" I Timothy 4:1.
The increase in false doctrine and spiritism
is one of the signs of the last days and of the
near approach of the judgment, according to the
above Scripture.
Demons are subject to God's power and
tremble before Him. "Thou believest that there
is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe,
and tremble." James 2:19.Sorcery and Drugs The Bible clearly declares that the occult-
ism of the last days will be related to the use
of drugs. "Pharmakeia" is a Greek word which
means "enchantment with drugs". It is translated
as witchcraft in Gal. 5:20 and as sorceries in Rev.
9:21 and 18:23. A slightly different form of the word
is translated sorcerers in Rev. 21:8 and 22:15. These
Scriptures in the prophetical portion of Revelation
definitely show that this will be widespread in the
last days. "Pharmakeia" is the root word from which
we derive our word pharmacy. This should be warn-
ing enough, to cause everyone to avoid the use of il-
licit drugs.Beware of Satan's Traps Evidence continues to mount that multitudes are
falling into occultism through Satan's many traps.
We strongly urge everyone to avoid the pitfalls that
lead to occultism and demon possession. These in-
clude astrology, horoscopes, fortune-tellers, tarot
cards, card laying, Ouija boards and hypnotism. We
warn against black magic, white magic, clairvoy-
ance, seances, mediums, palmistry, spiritism, un-
known tongues, yoga, Satanism, demonism, amulets,
charms, magical healing and every form of occultism.
Some may smile at the mention of some of these
things, but in every instance they are the devil's
traps, and many weep today because they were caught.
These are not innocent parlor games. They are un-
Christian and satanic to the core.Beware of Exorcism "The Exorcist" is a book that was made in-
to a movie. Because of the widespread popularity
of this book and movie, multitudes have been led into
an unhealthy interest in demonism and exorcism.
We do not recommend the book or movie. Some
psychologists have said that it is doubtful if anyone
could see the movie without suffering mental and
emotional damage. Some people now believe that
exorcism is widely taught in the Bible. This is not so.
Actually the word "exorcist" is only found one time
in the Bible. It is used in Acts 19:13 to describe the
work of certain vagabond Jews. They were religious
heretics and got into great trouble trying to cast an
evil spirit out of a man. This should serve as a warn-
ing unto all those who would try to do the same thing.
Some [t]eachers are now trying to teach people how
to cast out evil spirits. We think they are off base
and may cause some people a great deal of harm.
We would urge everyone to approach with
extreme caution any form of exorcism. It is
true that Jesus and His apostles did cast out evil
spirits, but remember that you are not Christ or an
apostle. Jesus Christ raised the dead, but no one is
doing that today. God has not given miracle working
power to men today, as Jesus did to His apostles.
God does hear and answer prayer. You may pray
for those who are physically or mentally sick or
those whom you believe to be demon possessed. But
you had better pray and leave the work to God.Can a Christian be Demon Possessed? Every Christian becomes the temple of the
Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. The Holy
Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, actually
lives in the body of the believer. (Rom. 8:9; I Cor.
6:19, 20; Eph. 1:13, 14). Jesus taught that the Holy
Spirit would abide with the believer for ever (John
14:16). Therefore, it is unthinkable that the Holy
Spirit would live in the same temple with an evil
spirit. However, evil spirits can oppress and in-
fluence a believer (Mark 8:33; Luke 22:31.)
It is the unsaved people who become demon pos-
sessed. There is not one verse of Scripture that
tells of one saved person who was demon possessed
after salvation. If some unsaved person may be
reading this tract, let me urge you to turn from the
occult. You need Christ as Saviour. You do not need
Satan's religion which is some form of occultism.
We warn everyone to beware of any kind of
experimentation with any form of occultism.
There is no need for born again Christians living
in fear of the devil. "Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James 4:7.Tract # B-323 Order From:
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